When you sit down to watch a period drama about the Mughals, you usually expect the same old tropes. Sparkling jewelry. Shakespearian dialogue that feels a bit too stiff. Maybe a few elephants. But Taj: Divided by Blood (often searched as "Rise of Taj") took a sharp turn into the gritty, bloody, and surprisingly human side of the empire. It wasn’t just about the architecture. It was about the people. Honestly, the cast of Rise of Taj is exactly why this show didn't just disappear into the void of streaming content. They brought a level of "prestige TV" weight to a story that could have easily felt like a soap opera.
Success in a historical epic depends entirely on the patriarch. If you don't believe the Emperor can command an army or ruin his son's life with a single look, the whole thing falls apart. Naseeruddin Shah didn't just play Akbar; he inhabited a version of the ruler that we haven't seen before—tired, manipulative, and deeply flawed.
The Power Players: Breaking Down the Cast of Rise of Taj
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of names. You’ve got three brothers fighting for a throne, a legendary emperor, and a woman trapped in the middle of it all.
Naseeruddin Shah is the anchor. Period. He’s 70-something years old, and he still has more screen presence in his pinky finger than most young actors have in their entire bodies. In Taj, he plays Akbar not as a god, but as a father who is honestly kind of exhausted by his kids. He’s looking for a successor, and he’s realizing that none of his sons are quite right. It’s a cynical performance. He’s not the "Akbar the Great" from your history textbooks; he’s a man who has stayed in power long enough to lose his soul.
Then you have the sons. This is where the cast of Rise of Taj gets interesting because the chemistry—or rather, the friction—between them drives the entire plot.
- Aashim Gulati as Prince Salim: Salim is the one everyone knows. He’s the romantic. The alcoholic. The rebel. Gulati plays him with a sort of restless energy. You get the sense that Salim doesn't even want the throne; he just wants to be left alone, which is exactly why he’s so dangerous to the empire.
- Taha Shah Badussha as Prince Murad: If Salim is the heart, Murad is the fist. Taha Shah’s performance is genuinely unsettling at times. He’s the second son with a massive chip on his shoulder. He’s violent, impulsive, and desperate for his father’s approval.
- Shubham Kumar Mehra as Prince Daniyal: The third son is often overlooked in these historical retellings, but here, Daniyal is a fascinating study in repressed ambition and religious stoicism.
Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali is the soul of the show. People always talk about Anarkali as this tragic figure, but Hydari gives her a quiet strength. She’s not just a victim of the court; she’s a woman who understands exactly how the game is played, even if she doesn't have the pieces to win.
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Why the Casting Worked (When It Could Have Failed)
Let’s be real. Historical dramas are risky. If the acting is too modern, it feels like a high school play with a big budget. If it's too theatrical, it feels dated.
The cast of Rise of Taj found a middle ground.
They spoke with a certain weight, but they moved like real people. Dharmendra’s cameo as Shaikh Salim Christi was a massive "get" for the production. Seeing a legend of Indian cinema play a Sufi saint added a layer of meta-significance to the show. It felt like an old guard passing the torch to a new generation of actors.
The show also didn't shy away from the darker elements. Sandhya Mridul as Queen Jodha and Zarina Wahab as Queen Salima provided the backbone of the "Harem" politics. In many shows, the female characters are relegated to the background, but here, their influence over Akbar is palpable. You see how the empire is run through whispers just as much as it is through swords.
The Breakout Stars and Unexpected Turns
Taha Shah Badussha was arguably the biggest surprise. Before this, many viewers knew him from lighter roles, but his turn as Murad was dark. He played the "villain" role with enough vulnerability that you almost—almost—felt bad for him. It’s that nuance that separates a good show from a great one.
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Then there’s the sheer scale. Rahul Bose appearing as Mirza Hakim adds another layer of complexity. Bose is known for his "art-house" sensibilities, and bringing that kind of cerebral acting to a big-budget epic was a smart move by the casting directors. He makes Hakim feel like a genuine intellectual threat to Akbar’s reign, rather than just another warlord.
The Realistic Side of the Mughal Court
Most people go into this thinking it’s a remake of Mughal-e-Azam. It’s not.
While the 1960 classic was a romanticized, poetic version of history, the cast of Rise of Taj had to deliver something much grittier. There are scenes of torture, betrayal, and deep psychological warfare. This required the actors to go to some pretty dark places.
Take Aashim Gulati’s Salim. He has to balance the "lover" persona with the fact that he is a drug-addicted prince who is slowly losing his mind. It’s a messy performance, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s unpolished. It’s human.
Technical Mastery Behind the Performances
We can't talk about the cast without mentioning the direction by Ron Scalpello and the writing. The script gave these actors room to breathe. There are long sequences where very little is said, but the tension is thick enough to cut.
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When you look at the cast of Rise of Taj, you see a mix of theater veterans and TV stalwarts. That’s a deliberate choice. Theater actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Rahul Bose bring a discipline to the dialogue delivery (the leheja) that is often missing in modern Indian streaming series. They understand the rhythm of Urdu and Hindustani, which is vital for a show set in the 16th century.
Digging Into the Supporting Characters
It's not just the leads.
- Pawan Chopra as Ghias Beg: His portrayal of the calculating courtier is subtle and effective.
- Padma Damodaran as Ruqaiya Begum: She plays the "first wife" with a cold, calculated precision that makes her one of the most formidable players in the palace.
The sheer number of characters could have been overwhelming, but the casting department ensured that every face was distinct. You never find yourself asking, "Wait, who is that again?" Every actor has a specific energy.
What to Watch Next if You Loved the Cast
If you’ve finished the series and you’re looking for more, you should check out the individual filmographies of these actors.
- Naseeruddin Shah: Watch Maqbool. It’s a Shakespearean adaptation where he plays a corrupt cop, and it shows the same manipulative genius he brings to Akbar.
- Aditi Rao Hydari: Look for Padmaavat. She plays a smaller role, but her ability to convey emotion through her eyes alone is world-class.
- Taha Shah Badussha: He recently appeared in Heeramandi, where he again plays a complex royal figure, proving that he has carved out a niche for himself in period pieces.
Actionable Takeaways for History and Drama Fans
If you're diving into Taj: Divided by Blood for the first time, keep these points in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Look past the romance: While the Salim-Anarkali story is the hook, the real meat of the show is the political maneuvering between Akbar and his sons. Pay attention to the side conversations.
- Notice the language: The show uses a specific blend of languages. Listen to how Naseeruddin Shah varies his tone depending on whether he’s speaking to a general or a family member.
- Watch for the costumes: The attire isn't just for show. It reflects the status and the mental state of the characters. As Salim becomes more unhinged, his appearance follows suit.
- Research the "Real" History: After watching, look up the actual history of Prince Murad and Prince Daniyal. The show takes liberties, but the core of their tragic lives is grounded in historical records.
The cast of Rise of Taj succeeded because they didn't try to be statues in a museum. They played these historical figures as people with egos, fears, and messy desires. It’s a reminder that even the most powerful empire in the world was, at its heart, just a very dysfunctional family.
Next Steps for You:
To truly appreciate the depth of the performances, watch Season 1 and Season 2 back-to-back. The character arcs, especially Salim’s descent and eventual rise, are designed to be viewed as a long-form tragedy. Pay close attention to the shifting alliances in the second season, as the supporting cast takes on much more significant roles in the power struggle for the Peacock Throne.